Chris Milam
Leaving Tennessee
© 2005 Chris Milam (837101044356)
CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.
Somewhere between folk, alt-country, Southern rock, and a hard place.
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Since the beginning of his career, Chris Milam has set out to turn the music world upside-down—literally. As a kid with southpaw inclinations, Chris “flipped over” his first guitar and taught himself to play upside-down. In the years that followed, he also became a proficient bass player, pianist, and vocalist, combining the merits of formal instruction with the excitement of untraditional technique.
In this way, Chris’s development as an artist and creative force is a result of determination and good fortune. Born in Virginia, raised in Memphis, and trained in Nashville, Chris has been lucky enough to have spent most of his life in some of American music’s true Meccas. In the spring of 2005, Chris recorded his debut album, Leaving Tennessee, combining the blues, country, and rock influences of his youth to create a sound all his own. Almost immediately after its release, the title track "Leaving Tennessee" was featured on a label compilation alongside the Greencards and Jeff Black. Chris’s single went on to generate airplay on at least a dozen radio stations across the Southeast. Soon after, a copy of Leaving Tennessee fell into the hands of a Memphis DJ, who featured "Whenever It Rains" in his new music segment. This second single drew a buzz quickly, and "Whenever It Rains" stayed on regular rotation, enjoying more requests than its nightly competition (which included 3 Doors Down and No Doubt). Constant gigging around Nashville gained Chris an increasing fanbase, as did the growing number of critics lauding his songwriting ability at such a young age. Comparisons to songwriting masters Ben Folds, Elliot Smith, Ryan Adams, and even Bob Dylan abounded, as Chris’s sound is both unique and classic, fresh yet oddly familiar.
Riding this wave of momentum, Chris spent six weeks in the spring of 2006 on the road, gigging everywhere from the Florida coast to central Oklahoma. After playing to full houses across the Southeast, he returned to Nashville to find that his fanbase was larger than ever—it’s not often a solo acoustic performer fills major venues on a Monday night! Fans are already hyping his next album based on the live performances of his new material—lyrically-intensive, amazingly sharp folk tunes that recall both early Bob Dylan and late Steve Earle. Chris is also writing new, more rock-oriented tunes with his Nashville band, and sees all his new material forming a two-sided album, juxtaposing stripped-down folk and all-out Southern rock.
If you ask friends, fans, and critics alike, they’ll tell you multiple reasons for his success. His inventive language and memorable verse mark him as one of his generation’s most promising lyricists. His ear for melody makes him one of rock’s most pop-savvy songwriters. And his knack for sonic alchemy—the seamless integration of his most disparate influences—shows that, with each new song and album, Chris’s music will continue to evolve. But if you ask Chris himself, he’ll tell you a different, more typically self-effacing story: “I really don’t know, but it’s flattering. I’d like to think that kids my age are finding something in the lyrics to relate to, or maybe there’s something in the melody that captures an emotion. Really, they’re just coming out to see ‘the kid who plays upside-down.’” If his career thus far is any indication, as long as Chris stays committed to turning the music world on its head, he’ll continue to have an eager audience.
reviews
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player hater same girl cherish love her
author: christopherchris breezy
Catchy Rising Star
author: LizaI enjoy Chris Milam's music, it's catchy, witty, and something that you've never heard before! I'm keeping my eyes open for more.
amazing lyrics, peace of acoustic with rythym that won't let u go!
author: Lisa BishopI love this CD! Very rarely do I even buy a cd, because it's such a waste, well not with this one, I can listen to it all the way through and still be tapping my feet , this cd is a refreshing burst of sunshine to the tired ear of the norm, it definitley breaks the mold on what it considered good music in today's industry.
Clever and Catchy, a Countrified Nellie McKay
author: James Richards, Music Aficionado/Venezuelan EntrepreneurIntelligent lyrics add substance to a CD that immediately catches your ear. Cheers to Mr. Milam for a quality production! Already looking forward to the next installment from clearly a very talented artist.
Great lyrics; awesome music; terrific first CD
author: Mark FieldThis CD is so good that I will definitely watch for his next one.
Folkster's debut sets toes to tappin and hands to clappin...
author: Jay Caldwell, freelance journalist/music criticOkay, okay, I get it....the acoustic rocker/folkster/barstar market is as clogged as the pores in your ex-girlfriend's face.Too clogged, you say?Perhaps.But my contention is that there is always some room in the inn for something special...and I'm telling you that Chris Milam's Leaving Tennessee is something special.It's simplistic folk rock in the vein of the greats who established the genre, before John Mayer and his ilk came along and gummed up the works.Chris doesn't mince words, nor does his playing clutter up the muscial landscape...tasteful chops are the order of the day here.But the lyrics will stay with you long after your car is parked or your Pod runs out of juice...and to me,that's what it's all about, baby.
I really enjoyed Chris Milam's Leaving Tennessee
author: Andrew FlanniganThis cd is very smooth almost like a fine brandy. I enjoyed Leaving Tennessee very much and I encourage everyone to pick it up and give a listen. I think everyone will be hearing the name Chris Milam a lot more in the future.
Great debut, A great lyricist with melodic prowess.
author: www.MichaelOnline.co.ukChris Milam comes crashing into the music scene with his independently released debut Leaving Tennessee. There is something for everyone on this album. From the rocking intro 'Leaving Tennessee' to the melodic love song 'You', you'll find yourself humming Milam's songs long after your last listen. Although there is a distinct country feel to the album, acoustic songs like 'A City That Sleeps' and 'Lisa my Dear' show that Chris has folk roots. I highly recommend this album. Keep an eye on this guy, Milam's creative melodies and smart lyrics won't keep him underground for long.